Following a friend's death in an avoidable aviation disaster after WWI, Colonel Billy Mitchell is outspoken about the US armed forces' indifferent approach to flying. This eventually ends up with him facing a court martian for insubordination.
After quite a lot of set-up, the final act of this movie which was based on real-life events, is a decent courtroom drama. The fact that there is a lot of truth to this story (which, there days, probably isn't very widely known) adds some edge. Gary Cooper plays the principled Mitchellbwith his customary air of decency (I gather Mitchell was actually a bit of a hothead), and it is salutary to note that Mitchell effectively oredicted Pearl Harbour.
It is also satisfying, though somewhat sad, to note that the self-sacrifice of his career on a point of principle was one of the factors leading to the creation of the USAF.
After quite a lot of set-up, the final act of this movie which was based on real-life events, is a decent courtroom drama. The fact that there is a lot of truth to this story (which, there days, probably isn't very widely known) adds some edge. Gary Cooper plays the principled Mitchellbwith his customary air of decency (I gather Mitchell was actually a bit of a hothead), and it is salutary to note that Mitchell effectively oredicted Pearl Harbour.
It is also satisfying, though somewhat sad, to note that the self-sacrifice of his career on a point of principle was one of the factors leading to the creation of the USAF.